MyCarTSB

2013 Toyota Rav4 Brakes Problems

16 owner-reported brakes complaints from NHTSA data

16
Complaints
3
Crashes
Jan 2014Dec 2021
Date Range

Data sourced from NHTSA public database. For informational purposes only. Always consult a qualified mechanic.

Owner Complaints (16)

mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Dec 2021

Brakes failed to stop while parking vehicle with a speed of less than 5 mph hitting landscaping with a young pine tree that made the vehicle stopped. Hit and went over some matured bushes on the landscaped parking lot. The SUV cannot be stopped even brakes were depressed all the way. I needed to have my vehicle towed out of the bushes and the broken young tree in order to get out of the rubble. I need to have my brakes inspected by the dealership this week as it happened this Christmas Eve and the service are closed.

NHTSA #: 11445036
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Jun 2021

The brake line on the on the driver's side leaked brake fluid on the rotors and pads leading to an increased risk of crash due to lubricated brakes

NHTSA #: 11422084
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: May 2019

THE BRAKES NEVER APPEARED TO BE RIGHT ON THIS CAR FROM DAY 1. THEY SQUEEK WHEN BRAKING AND THERE'S NOTHING WRONG WITH THE PADS, SHOES OR ROTORS, PER SEVERAL MECHANICS, INCLUDING TOYOTA CERTIFIED MECHANICS. GOT THEM CLEANED BUT THE PROBLEM RECURS. IF I HIT THE BRAKES TOO HARD FOR AN EXTENDED PERIOD OF TIME, THE CAR BEGINS TO SHAKE UNTIL I LET UP ON THE BRAKE. THIS HAPPENS AT ANY TIME, ON ANY ROADWAY, WHILE IN MOTION.

NHTSA #: 11208915
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Dec 2016

THIS VEHICLE HAS A FAULTY BRAKE, IT MAKES A SOUND EVERY TIME YOU APPLY BRAKE. MOREOVER THE BRAKES FEELS VERY SOFT, NEED TO PUSH VERY HARD ON BRAKES TO STOP THE CAR. BOUGHT THE CAR NEW AND ON ORIGINAL TOYOTA BRAKES THAT CAME WITH THE NEW CAR. IT IS A SAFETY PROBLEM.

NHTSA #: 10936362
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Dec 2016

MAKES LOT OF NOISE FRONT BRAKES WHEN DRIVING AND APPLYING BRAKES. *TR

NHTSA #: 10934019
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Nov 2016

BRAKES FAILED WHILE DRIVING AT LOW SPEED IN THE CITY OF YONKERS, NEW YORK. CAR HAS VERY LOW MILEAGE AND HAS HAD ROUTINE MAINTENANCE THRU TOYOTA DEALERSHIP

NHTSA #: 10926032
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: May 2016

WHILE I WAS STOPPING IN FRONT OF A RED LIGHT, AND MY FOOT WAS ON BRAKE PEDAL, THE CAR STARTED TO MOVE, I PUSHED THE BRAKE DOWN AS LOW AS POSSIBLE, CAR KEPT ON MOVING. I THEN USED THE HAND BRAKE TO STOP THE CAR. LUCKILY, THERE WAS NO CAR IN FRONT OF MINE, SO NO ACCIDENT. THIS HAPPENED ON LAST SATURDAY, MAY 21, 2016, EARLY IN THE MORNING. AFTER THE INCIDENT, THE CAR'S BRAKE FUNCTIONS AS EXPECTED. BUT I ALWAYS HAVE A FEAR THAT IT MIGHT DO THE SAME THING SOMETIME SOMEDAY, AND I MIGHT NOT BE LUCKY ENOUGH TO BE ACCIDENT FREE.

NHTSA #: 10870470
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Apr 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE DRIVING 55 MPH, THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED ABRUPTLY TO AVOID CRASHING INTO ANOTHER VEHICLE. AFTER THE INCIDENT, EVERY TIME THE BRAKE PEDAL WAS DEPRESSED, THERE WAS AN ABNORMAL NOISE COMING FROM THE REAR BRAKES. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT THE BRAKES SEIZED AND NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED; HOWEVER, THE FAILURE RECURRED. THE VEHICLE WAS TAKEN TO AN INDEPENDENT MECHANIC WHO DIAGNOSED THAT BOTH REAR PADS, ROTORS, AND HARDWARE NEEDED TO BE REPLACED. THE VEHICLE WAS REPAIRED. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOTIFIED OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 30,000.....UPDATED 07/05/16 *BF *TR

NHTSA #: 10861661
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
CrashFiled: Apr 2016

TL* THE CONTACT OWNS A 2013 TOYOTA RAV4. WHILE ATTEMPTING TO PARK THE VEHICLE IN A PARKING LOT, THE BRAKES FAILED. AS A RESULT, THE CONTACT'S VEHICLE CRASHED INTO A PARKED VEHICLE, WHICH THEN CRASHED INTO A THIRD VEHICLE. THERE WAS NO WARNING INDICATOR. A POLICE REPORT WAS FILED AND THERE WERE NO INJURIES. THE VEHICLES HAD MINOR DAMAGE. THE MANUFACTURER WAS NOT MADE AWARE OF THE FAILURE. THE FAILURE MILEAGE WAS 24,000.

NHTSA #: 10861879
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
CrashFiled: Aug 2015

HI, WE (MYSELF, MY WIFE AND DAUGHTER) HAD AN ACCIDENT DATED 08/02/2015 DUE TO BRAKES IN OUR TOYOTA 2013 RAV 4 DIDN'T FUNCTION. WE WERE TRAVELING AT POSTED SPEED OF 65/HR AND THERE WERE 3 CARS AHEAD OF US THAT BRAKED SUDDENLY. THERE WAS ENOUGH TIME FOR ALL CARS TO STOP INCLUDING OUR CAR BUT INSPITE OF FULL BRAKING IT FAILED TO AND HAPPENED TO CRASH INTO THE CAR AHEAD OF US. OUR CAR JUST COULD NOT COME TO COMPLETE STOP. WE STRONGLY FEEL ITS NOT SAFE FOR OUR FAMILY TO DRIVE IN THAT CAR ANY MORE. WE HAVE OPENED A CASE WITH TOYOTA AS WELL, BUT ITS BEEN 3 DAYS HAVE NOT HEARD BACK FROM THEM YET. ALL THEY DID WAS EMAIL US SAYING THEY WERE UNABLE TO REACH US WHEN WE DID NOT RECEIVED ANY CALLS AT OUR END. WE REQUEST YOU TO PLEASE LOOK INTO THIS MATTER AND IT MIGHT BE A SERIOUS ISSUE. THANKING YOU, [XXX] FAMILY. INFORMATION REDACTED PURSUANT TO THE FREEDOM OF INFORMATION ACT (FOIA), 5 U.S.C. 552(B)(6).' *JB

NHTSA #: 10746259
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Oct 2014

THE RAV4 WAS PURCHASED NEW FROM A DEALER. WHILE DRIVING HOME, THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL FELT EXCESSIVE, AS IF THERE WAS TOO MUCH AIR IN THE SYSTEM. WITH A MODERATE BRAKE APPLICATION, IT FELT AS THOUGH THE PEDAL WAS ALMOST TO THE END OF ITS STROKE. I MEASURED THE PEDAL TRAVEL STATICALLY IN MY GARAGE = WITH 25 POUNDS EFFORT, THE TRAVEL WAS 2.5 INCHES. BUT WITH 100 POUNDS EFFORT, THE PEDAL WAS ABOUT 1/2" FROM THE FLOOR, MEANING THAT IN THE ADVENT OF A FAILED BRAKE CIRCUIT, THERE WOULD NOT BE ENOUGH PEDAL TRAVEL TO SAFELY STOP THE VEHICLE. ALSO, THE PEDAL EFFORT V. TRAVEL FELT LINEAR, AND NOT ASYMPTOTIC AS ONE WOULD EXPECT FROM A BRAKE PEDAL. I TOOK THE RAV4 TO THE DEALER SERVICE DEPT. THEY REPORTED THAT THEY FOUND NO ISSUES AND NO SERVICE WAS DONE. AFTER THE VISIT TO THE DEALERSHIP, THE BRAKE PEDAL FEEL WAS COMPLETELY DIFFERENT. THE PEDAL TRAVEL AT 25 POUNDS EFFORT WAS NOW 1.5", WHICH FELT NORMAL. ALSO, THE PEDAL FEEL WAS NOW ASYMPTOTIC AND PLENTY OF TRAVEL WAS LEFT AVAILABLE TO ALLOW FOR A SAFE STOP WITH A FAILED CIRCUIT. SINCE I HAVE NO IDEA WHAT CHANGED ON THE VEHICLE DURING ITS VISIT TO THE DEALERSHIP, IT LEAVES OPEN THE QUESTION OF WHETHER THE UNSAFE CONDITION OF THE RAV4 BRAKING SYSTEM IN THE BRAND NEW STATE IS A SYSTEMIC ISSUE. ON A SEPARATE ISSUE, WHILE MEASURING THE BRAKE PEDAL TRAVEL IN MY GARAGE I NOTICED THAT THE BRAKE BOOSTER WOULD DEPLETE IN THE MIDDLE OF A BRAKE APPLICATION IF THE BRAKE PEDAL IS MODULATED SLIGHTLY (FOR EXAMPLE, PULSED UP AND DOWN SLIGHTLY WITHOUT FULLY RETRACTING IT). I CONSIDER THIS UNSAFE AS WELL BECAUSE IF AN UNUSUAL EVENT OCCURRED, SUCH AS AN UNINTENDED ACCELERATION, THEN THE BRAKE BOOSTER WOULD QUICKLY DEPLETE LEAVING THE DRIVER WITHOUT BRAKE ASSIST AND UNABLE TO STOP THE VEHICLE, UNLESS HE/SHE HAD THE PRESENCE OF MIND TO FULLY RETRACT THE BRAKE PEDAL AND REAPPLY IT FIRMLY. *TR

NHTSA #: 10651568
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Jun 2014

BRAKES FADING AND OVERHEATING. DURING A LONG DESCENT ON HIGHWAY THAT REQUIRED FREQUENT APPLICATION OF BRAKES TO MAINTAIN SPEED, I EXPERIENCED SIGNIFICANT BRAKE FADING AND OVERHEATING. AT THE END OF THE HILL BRAKE EFFECTIVENESS WAS SIGNIFICANTLY REDUCED REQUIRING MORE PRESSURE AND PEDAL TRAVEL TO ACHIEVE ADEQUATE BRAKING ACTION. BRAKING WAS ALSO ACCOMPANIED BY VIBRATION THAT COULD BE FELT IN THE STEERING WHEEL. BRAKING PERFORMANCE WAS RESTORED AFTER THE BRAKES COOLED DOWN. AFTER THE INCIDENT I DID A BIT OF RESEARCH AND FOUND THAT RAV4 LE IS EQUIPPED WITH SMALLER FRONT BRAKES THAN XLE AND LIMITED MODELS. LE FRONT ROTORS ARE ONLY 10.8", SIGNIFICANTLY SMALLER THAN 11.7" ROTORS ON THE XLE AND LIMITED, AS WELL AS MOST COMPETITIVE VEHICLE WHICH COME EQUIPPED WITH ~12" OR BIGGER BRAKE ROTORS. BASED ON THE FADING / OVERHEATING EXPERIENCED AND THE FACT THAT RAV4 LE BRAKES ARE MUCH SMALLER THAN MOST OTHER SMALL SUV, IT APPEARS TO ME THAT THE BRAKES ROTORS ARE UNDERSIZED FOR THE SIZE / GVWR OF THIS VEHICLE. *TR

NHTSA #: 10597294
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC,VEHICLE SPEED CONTROL
Filed: Feb 2014

I LEASED 2013 TOYOTA RAV4, AROUND 2900 MILES THE WARNING AND INDICATING LIGHTS ON THE INSTRUMENT PANEL LIT UP WHILE I WAS DRIVING. TOOK THE CAR TO THE DEALER WHO DETERMINED THE CAUSE WAS "SOME ONE HIT ABS SENSOR AND CUT HARNESS ..." SINCE THE SENSORS WERE NOT UNDER WARRANTY, IT WILL COST ME $600 IN REPAIRS. THE FAILED SENSORS ARE USED FOR VEHICLE SAFETY AND TRACTION CONTROL . I THINK THAT THE CABLE HARNESS SHOULD BE DESIGNED TO BE BETTER PROTECTED FROM ROAD HAZARDS AND THE CUSTOMER SHOULD NOT BE LIABLE FOR TOYOTA DESIGN FLAWS. PLEAD FIND ATTACHED SOME SUPPORTING DOCUMENTS. THANK YOU,

NHTSA #: 10578701
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Jan 2014

BRAKES SCRAPE LOUDLY WHILE BACKING AND ON TURNS. TOOK INTO DEALER,REAR PADS GLAZED ,ROTORS UNEVEN DEALER SANDED AND DEGLAZED REAR PADS,APPLY FINISH CUT/MACHINE TO REAR ROTORS NOW AT0.455IN NEW ROTORS0.472 NOT A GOOD SIGN AT 5343 MILES. *TR

NHTSA #: 10559706
mediumSERVICE BRAKES, HYDRAULIC
CrashFiled: Oct 2013

2013 TOYOTA RAV 4. CONSUMER WRITES IN REGARDS TO BRAKE PEDAL MALFUNCTION. *SMD THE CONSUMER STATED WHEN SHE TRIED TO STOP THE VEHICLE, THE PEDAL WENT COMPLETELY TO THE FLOOR AND DID NOT STOP UNTIL SHE HIT A CEMENT POST IN FRONT OF THE PARKING AREA.

NHTSA #: 10549100
mediumSERVICE BRAKES
Filed: Sep 2013

THIS VEHICLE HAS A FAULTY BRAKE, IT MAKES A SOUND EVERY TIME YOU SQUEEZE THE RELEASE THE BRAKE. MOREOVER THE BRAKES DOES NOT GRIP AS TIGHT AS EXPECTED FROM A BRAND NEW CAR. *TR

NHTSA #: 10545635

Other 2013 Toyota Rav4 Issues